Huqúqu'lláh
Encyclopedia
Huqúqu'lláh sometimes called the Law of Huqúq is a socio-economic
and spiritual
law of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
, a charter document of the Bahá'í Faith
, written by Bahá'u'lláh
. In its most basic form, it states that Bahá'ís should make a 19% voluntary payment on any wealth in excess of what is necessary to live comfortably, after the remittance of any outstanding debt, to the head of the Bahá'í Faith
. The money is then disbursed to social and economic development projects, or similar philanthropic
purposes.
Bahá'u'lláh wrote down the law of Huqúqu'lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas in 1873, but he did not accept any payments initially. In 1878 he appointed the first trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh, who had the responsibility of receiving the Huqúq from the Bahá'ís in Iran
. Later this was expanded to the Bahá'ís the Middle East
. In 1985 information about the Huqúq was distributed worldwide and in 1992 the law was made universally applicable. As the number of payments increased, deputies and representatives to receive the payments have been appointed. In 1991 the central office of Huqúqu'lláh was established at the Bahá'í World Centre
in Haifa
, Israel
. In 2005 the International Board of Trustees of Ḥuqúqu’lláh was formed "to guide and
supervise the work of Regional and National Boards of Trustees of Ḥuqúqu’lláh throughout the world."
. In his Will and Testament
, `Abdu'l-Bahá provided that Huqúqu'lláh be offered after him “through the Guardian of the Cause of God”. Though now without a Guardian, it is offered through the Universal House of Justice
as the Head of the Faith.
The offering of Huqúqu'lláh is a spiritual obligation, the fulfillment of which has been left to the conscience of each Bahá’í. Moreover, Huqúqu'lláh is only to be accepted if it is given with "utmost joy, radiance and good pleasure". While the community may be reminded of the requirements of the law of Huqúqu'lláh, it is a principle that no Bahá’í may be appealed to nor solicited to pay it. This offering is to be considered separate from giving to the various Bahá’í funds and takes precedence over them.
s of gold (19 mithqáls equal to 2.2246 ounces, currently roughly US$
3,000), it is a spiritual obligation to pay nineteen percent of the total amount, once only, as Huqúqu'lláh. Thereafter, whenever an individual acquires more possessions or wealth from income by the amount of at least nineteen mithqáls of gold, one is to pay nineteen percent of this increase, and so on for each further increase.
has left it to the individual to decide which items are considered necessary and which are not. Specific provisions are outlined to cover cases of financial loss, the failure of investments to yield a profit and for the payment of the Huqúqu'lláh in the event of the person’s death.
Socioeconomics
Socioeconomics or socio-economics or social economics is an umbrella term with different usages. 'Social economics' may refer broadly to the "use of economics in the study of society." More narrowly, contemporary practice considers behavioral interactions of individuals and groups through social...
and spiritual
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
law of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
Kitáb-i-Aqdas
The Kitáb-i-Aqdas is a central book of the Bahá'í Faith written by Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the religion. The work was written in Arabic under the Arabic title , but it is commonly referred to by its Persian title, Kitáb-i-Aqdas , which was given to the work by Bahá'u'lláh himself...
, a charter document of the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
, written by Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
. In its most basic form, it states that Bahá'ís should make a 19% voluntary payment on any wealth in excess of what is necessary to live comfortably, after the remittance of any outstanding debt, to the head of the Bahá'í Faith
Universal House of Justice
The Universal House of Justice is the supreme governing institution of the Bahá'í Faith. It is a legislative institution with the authority to supplement and apply the laws of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, and exercises a judicial function as the highest appellate institution in the...
. The money is then disbursed to social and economic development projects, or similar philanthropic
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
purposes.
Gradual implementation
- See also: Gradualism in Bahá'í laws and Timeline of the institution of Huqúqu'lláhTimeline of the institution of Huqúqu'lláhThe following is a basic timeline of the institution of Huqúqu'lláh. ...
Bahá'u'lláh wrote down the law of Huqúqu'lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas in 1873, but he did not accept any payments initially. In 1878 he appointed the first trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh, who had the responsibility of receiving the Huqúq from the Bahá'ís in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Later this was expanded to the Bahá'ís the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. In 1985 information about the Huqúq was distributed worldwide and in 1992 the law was made universally applicable. As the number of payments increased, deputies and representatives to receive the payments have been appointed. In 1991 the central office of Huqúqu'lláh was established at the Bahá'í World Centre
Bahá'í World Centre
The Bahá'í World Centre is the name given to the spiritual and administrative centre of the Bahá'í Faith. The World Centre consists of the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh near Acre, Israel, the Shrine of the Báb and its gardens on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, and various other buildings in the area...
in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. In 2005 the International Board of Trustees of Ḥuqúqu’lláh was formed "to guide and
supervise the work of Regional and National Boards of Trustees of Ḥuqúqu’lláh throughout the world."
Recipients
During the lifetime of Bahá’u’lláh, the offerings were made directly to him, and following his death, to `Abdu'l-Bahá`Abdu'l-Bahá
‘Abdu’l-Bahá , born ‘Abbás Effendí, was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. In 1892, `Abdu'l-Bahá was appointed in his father's will to be his successor and head of the Bahá'í Faith. `Abdu'l-Bahá was born in Tehran to an aristocratic family of the realm...
. In his Will and Testament
Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá
A seminal document, written in three stages by `Abdu'l-Bahá. Several sections were written under imminent threat of harm. The first section was probably written in 1906....
, `Abdu'l-Bahá provided that Huqúqu'lláh be offered after him “through the Guardian of the Cause of God”. Though now without a Guardian, it is offered through the Universal House of Justice
Universal House of Justice
The Universal House of Justice is the supreme governing institution of the Bahá'í Faith. It is a legislative institution with the authority to supplement and apply the laws of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, and exercises a judicial function as the highest appellate institution in the...
as the Head of the Faith.
Trustees
- Hájí Sháh-Muhammad Manshádi, Amínu’l-Bayán (’trustee of the Bayán’; d. 1881)
- Hájí AmínHájí AmínMullá Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardikání , surnamed Amín-i-Iláhí, better known as Hájí Amín was an eminent follower of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, a global religion of Persian origin...
(Abdu’l-Hasan Ardikání), Amín-i-Iláhi (‘trustee of God’; 1881-1928) - Hájí Ghulám-Ridá, Amín-i-Amín (‘trustee of the trustee’; 1928-38)
- Valíyu'lláh VarqáValíyu'lláh VarqáMírzá Valíyu'lláh Khán-i-Varqá was a prominent Persian Bahá'í, and appointed a Hand of the Cause by Shoghi Effendi.He was the son of Varqá, the martyr-poet, and the father of `Alí-Muhammad Varqá, ....
(1938-55) - `Alí-Muhammad Varqá`Alí-Muhammad Varqá`Alí-Muhammad Varqá was a prominent adherent of the Bahá'í Faith. He was the longest surviving Hand of the Cause of God, an appointed position in the Bahá'í Faith whose main function is to propagate and protect the religion on the international level.Varqá was born in 1911 in Tehran, Iran to a...
(1955-2007)
Purpose
Huqúqu'lláh is said to enable the individual to “purify one’s riches and earthly possessions,” insuring the collection of sufficient funds “that the general Treasury is strengthened,” which makes it possible “to promote the interests of the Cause throughout the Bahá’í world,” and eventually provide for “the relief of the poor, the disabled, the needy, and the orphans,” and other philanthropical purposes.The offering of Huqúqu'lláh is a spiritual obligation, the fulfillment of which has been left to the conscience of each Bahá’í. Moreover, Huqúqu'lláh is only to be accepted if it is given with "utmost joy, radiance and good pleasure". While the community may be reminded of the requirements of the law of Huqúqu'lláh, it is a principle that no Bahá’í may be appealed to nor solicited to pay it. This offering is to be considered separate from giving to the various Bahá’í funds and takes precedence over them.
Calculation
The payment of Huqúqu'lláh is based on the calculation of the value of the individual’s possessions, which includes one’s merchandise, property and income, after all necessary expenses have been paid. If a person has possessions or wealth in excess of what is necessary, equal in value to at least nineteen mithqálMithqal
Mithqal is a unit of mass equal to 4.25 grams and mostly used for precious metals, The Gold Dinar is equal to 1 Mithqal.-Conversion factors:-Usage of the Mithqal:...
s of gold (19 mithqáls equal to 2.2246 ounces, currently roughly US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
3,000), it is a spiritual obligation to pay nineteen percent of the total amount, once only, as Huqúqu'lláh. Thereafter, whenever an individual acquires more possessions or wealth from income by the amount of at least nineteen mithqáls of gold, one is to pay nineteen percent of this increase, and so on for each further increase.
Exemptions
Certain categories of possessions are exempt from the payment of the Huqúqu'lláh, such as one’s residence, necessary household furnishings, business or professional equipment and furnishings, and others. Bahá'u'lláhBahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
has left it to the individual to decide which items are considered necessary and which are not. Specific provisions are outlined to cover cases of financial loss, the failure of investments to yield a profit and for the payment of the Huqúqu'lláh in the event of the person’s death.
External links
- Kitáb-i-Aqdas Project: Decisions, guidance and advice from the Universal House of Justice
- Sixteen Questions about Huququ'llah - by the Universal House of Justice (1991)
- Examples of Huququ'llah Transactions - by the Universal House of Justice (1991)
- Redistribution of Wealth - a compilation by the Baha'i World Centre
- Huqúqu'lláh - Text of a talk given by the Trustee of Huququ'llah, Dr. Ali-Muhammad Varqa (1997)